Beaumont resident indicted for recording in church bathroom

A Beaumont resident has been indicted for recording women in a church bathroom in Orange, according to information provided by Orange County Sheriff's Office (OCSO) Sgt. Chad Hogan.

On July 20, 2012, OCSO responded to a call from someone from Little Cypress Baptist Church, 3274 Little Cypress Drive in Orange, concerning suspicious circumstances. Upon arrival, Deputies met with a church member who advised that a hidden camera was found inside the women’s restroom of the church. The hidden camera was mounted on the wall in the restroom and had been recording people in the restroom without their knowledge.

The OCSO Criminal Investigations Division was contacted. The ensuing investigation allowed the team to develop a suspect in this case, 36-year-old Daniel Turner of Beaumont. Investigators interviewed Turner and he admitted to placing the camera in the restroom to record women without their knowledge or consent. He also admitted to placing cameras in other restrooms and dressing rooms at stores and other locations in Beaumont.

The Beaumont Police Department (BPD) was notified of the situation and conducted an investigation of their own. Once BPD completed their investigation, their case was presented to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. In early October, the Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted Daniel Turner on one count of improper visual recording of a bath or dressing room and one count of improper visual recording, other location. Turner was arrested and is currently out of jail in Jefferson County on bond.

Once the Orange County investigation was complete, the case went to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for review and disposition. On Dec. 12, the case was presented to the Orange County Grand Jury. Turner was indicted on three counts of Improper Photography or Visual Recording, which is a state jail felony offense punishable by up to two years in state jail for each count. On Dec. 13, Daniel Turner turned himself in at the Orange County Correctional Facility. Bond has been set at $30,000.